Eight years of hard work and pulling together – backed by a £300,000 investment to improve a much-loved and used facility on the River Orwell – were celebrated this week (September 16) as responsibility for the ‘Hard’ at Pin Mill is handed over to a new ‘community interest’ company.

It was in 2002 that Babergh District Council first brought together as many of the groups as possible (including the Parish Council, the National Trust, Associated British Ports, the houseboat owners and the Pin Mill Sailing Club) that had an interest in the river frontage at Pin Mill. The objective was to develop a long-term plan that would clear disused vessels, introduce controls regarding the mooring of houseboats and deliver both improvements to the boat repairs facilities and an agreed approach to their management.

In the ensuing period much has been achieved, the culmination being the recent completion of substantial repairs to the Hard, and the construction of a new barge repair facility, allowing more space for repair works to craft, both large and small, to be carried out.

80% of this recent work has been funded by the Haven Gateway Partnership (£185,100), with the remainder coming from Babergh District Council (£39,100) and other contributions from The Sailing Barge Association and the Association of Bargemen (£1,500 combined) Chelmondiston Parish Council (£500), Pin Mill Sailing Club (£1,000), the National Trust £400 and the Suffolk Coasts & Heaths Project (£3,000).

On September 16 responsibility for the running of these facilities was formally handed over to the new Pin Mill Bay Management Company - made up of representatives of many of the participating interests at Pin Mill including the boatyard owners. This company will be initially sponsored by Babergh District Council, Associated British Ports and Adnams Brewery, who own the nearby Butt & Oyster Pub.

The handover ceremony took place on the Hard against the backdrop of the S/B Melissa, a recently restored Thames Sailing Barge, with a number of smaller vessels alongside.

Babergh Councillor Bryn Hurren, who chaired the initial working group that brought together the current partners, stated “it is immensely satisfying to see the results of all our collective hard work and co-operation being realised in this way. Whilst eight years ago, the shoreline at Pin Mill was a bit of a sorry site and its future uncertain, the new community interest company inherits a modern facility and an approach to sorting out problems that addresses the expectations of all people who live, work and take their recreation at this iconic Suffolk site”.

Cllr David Wood, Chairman of Babergh District Council, who officiated during the handover was confident that “all of this hard work will stand this excellent facility in good stead and will provide a focal point for the ongoing success of Pin Mill – and indeed the wider Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in which it sits - for years to come”.

David Ralph, Chief Executive of the Haven Gateway Partnership said “maritime industries are at the heart of the Haven Gateway and supporting the provision of infrastructure such as moorings will enable private sector to bring forward jobs, opportunities and growth.  The Haven Gateway is therefore pleased to be funding the regeneration of Pin Mill”.

According to Jon Humby, Commodore of the Pin Mill Sailing Club, “we are very proud to have been involved and to support the redevelopment of the Hard and surrounding area and very much look forward to working alongside the Pin Mill Bay Management Company in using and promoting these facilities in the years to come”. 

“For our club members who regularly use the hard and also the many visiting yachtsman from home and abroad who visit Pin Mill the recently completed improvements will greatly improve the unique and traditional experience of launching and recovering dinghies and small craft at all states of the tide. Our thanks go to all other parties involved for there eight years of hard work, and funding making these improvements possible”.